Haula is day-to-day and his status remains unclear for the Devils' next game on Friday against the New York Islanders. So far this season, Haula has primarily centred a third line with Dawson Mercer and Alexander Holtz. He has been very effective in this role and is off to a great start, with three points (2G / 1A), nine shots, and four hits in three games.
Saros is expected to start his fourth straight game for the Predators to open the season. He is pretty well on par with his career 2.57 GAA and .919 SV% so far this season, posting a 2.41 GAA and .920 SV% in three contests (1-2-0). The wins aren't always there for Saros and the Predators but his superb performances have become expected as he has solidified himself as a top-tier goaltender in the NHL over the past half-decade. Saros will be put to the ultimate test Tuesday as the Predators face off against Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers, who are still searching for their first victory (0-2-0).
Stamkos will miss his second consecutive game as he tends to a lower-body injury. His status is day-to-day as the Lightning hope he can return soon after a torrid start to the season, recording four points (2G / 2A) in his first two games. He was replaced by Nick Paul on the top powerplay unit in his first game out of the lineup.
Jost is poised to make his season debut on Tuesday against the Lightning as Victor Olofsson is expected to be a healthy scratch. In 71 games between the Sabres and Minnesota Wild, Jost scored 25 points (7G / 18A) last season. He is projected to center the fourth line between Zemgus Girgenson and Kyle Okposo.
Annunen was the odd man out as Colorado had three goaltenders on their active roster and has been assigned to the Colorado Eagles (AHL) on Monday. The 23-year-old struggled in minimal usage with the Avalanche in 2022-23 as he was 1-1-0 with a .854 SV% and 3.58 GAA. He heads back to the Colorado Eagles, where he was much more successful last season with his 22-10-8 record, .916 SV% and 2.55 GAA.
Saros stopped all 23 shots that he faced in the Predators' shutout win over the Kraken on Thursday. It was an outstanding performance for Saros, who allowed four goals on 34 shots in a loss in Tampa on opening night. Saros carries a 2.05 GAA and .929 SV% into tonight's game in Boston.
Saros stopped all 23 shots that he faced in the Predators' shutout win over the Kraken on Thursday. It was an outstanding performance for Saros, who allowed four goals on 34 shots in a loss in Tampa on opening night. Saros carries a 2.05 GAA and .929 SV% into tonight's game in Boston.
Saros will be looking to rebound against Seattle on Thursday after a difficult opening-night matchup against the Lightning. The 28-year-old workhorse surrendered four goals on 33 shots enroute to a 5-3 defeat. Saros remains one of the best goaltenders in the NHL despite the poor start to the season he endured on Tuesday, and he’s got a great chance of notching his first win of the campaign at home against the Kraken on Thursday.
Saros was 33-23-7 with a 2.69 GAA and a .919 SV% in 63 games started in 2022-23 and will take the crease for Nashville's season opener vs. Tampa Bay on Tuesday. He will face the Lightning, who finished last season eighth in the NHL in goals for (280) and 13th in shots per game (32.0).
Haula is battling an undisclosed injury and his status for the Devils' opening game is uncertain. Last season was Haula's first with the Devils, in which he scored 41 points (14G / 27A) in 80 games. Haula is projected to center a talented third line between Ondrej Palat and Alexander Holtz but if he is unable to play, Michael McLeod might temporarily fill his position.
Annuen was expected to make the Avalanche's opening-day roster until they scooped up Ivan Prosvetov from Arizona on waivers Monday which has led to the netminder being assigned to Colorado (AHL) to start the 2023-24 season. The 23-year-old Finnish netminder appeared in two games for the Avalanche in 2022-23 and had a 1-1-0 record, .854 SV%, and 3.58 GAA.
Rizzo had 17 goals, 29 assists, 14 PIMs and a +24 plus/minus through 38 games with the University of Denver (NCAA) in 2022-23 and has had his rights traded alongside a 2025 fifth-round pick to the Philadelphia Flyers for the rights to David Kase. The 22-year-old centre has improved his prospect status exponentially after being drafted in the seventh-round of the 2019 NHL Draft (216th overall) by the Flyers.
Lucchini had a goal, 14 SOG, and a -2 plus/minus through 11 games played with Ottawa in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 AAV. The 28-year-old forward also had 19 goals, 34 assists, six PIMs and a -20 plus/minus through 61 games with Belleville (AHL) in 2022-23 after making his NHL debut in the same season.
Lind was drafted in the second-round of the 2023 draft (46th overall) by Nashville and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with Nashville. The 18-year-old left-winger is coming off a 16 goal, 44 point season in 43 games with the Red Deer Rebels (WHL) and is expected to return to junior in 2023-24.
Molendyk was Nashville's 2023 first-round pick (24th overall) and has officially signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Predators. The 18-year-old defenseman is coming off a season in Saskatoon (WHL) which saw him put up nine goals and 37 points across 67 games in 2022-23.
Oesterle played the last two seasons with the Red Wings, finishing with a combined 19 points (4G / 15A) across 97 games. Oesterle operated as the No.6 defenseman for Detroit last season, averaging just 15:39 TOI/gm. Expect similar deployment in his first season with the Flames.
Annunen appeared in two regular season games in 2022-23 posting a 1-1-0 record, 3.58 GAA and .854 SV% with Colorado and has signed a one-year, two-way contract extension ($775,000). The 23-year-old netminder was the Avalanche's 2018 third-round pick (64th overall) and has a 2-1-1 career record with a 3.92 GAA and .859 SV%.
Englund had four assists, 31 SOG, 35 PIMs and a -1 plus/minus through 47 games played with Colorado and Chicago in 2022-23 and has signed a two-year contract worth $2.0 million ($1.0M AAV). The 27-year-old defender will be joining his fourth NHL team and has yet to pick up a goal across 80 career NHL games despite having seven assists, 59 PIMs and 46 SOG across that span.
